Wheel



5m, Q, 119%. mswmz G. WALTHER WHEEL Filed May 31, 1922 Patented Sept. 9, 1924.

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GEORGE WALTI-IEB, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DAYTON STEEL FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

WHEEL.

Application filed May 31,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WALTHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVheels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to wheels and in particular to cast wheels.

It is the object of my invention to provide a wheel of great strength and resiliency of a symmetrical design for the equal distribution of shocks and their absorption.

In particular it is my object to provide an improvement upon my Patent No. 1,346,863, of July 20, 1920, in providing for certain special purposes and uses a wheel of this character without a box rim.

Under certain conditions it has been found that a wheel with a box rim is not suitable, that stresses and strains are set up in casting and that a much stronger wheel can be made for use under particular conditions by the employment of the construction shown in my present application which consists ofa single wall rim joined by bridges at intervals and so arranged that the outwardly flaring spoke ends merge directly into the rim and form a part of it, this giving the strength to the rim of an arch construction, resulting in a wheel of great strength with a minimum thickness of wa It is a further object of my invention to provide a construction of this character so that the lateral strains due to skidding,

contact with ruts, curbs, etc., will be directly transmitted through the arch structure of the spoke-ends rather than through the angular structure of a box rim.

The box rim has its adaptations and uses, but for special conditions my present invention has been found tobe of great utility in combination with the form of hub and adjacent mechanism shown in the accompanying drawing.

Furthermore, it is an object of my invention to provide a wheel of this character of lesser diameter which is made possible by the elimination of the box rim construction. This results in a lowering of the center of gravity in very heavy vehicles employing h l f thi character without a sacrifice 1922. Serial No. 564,773.

rim showing. the location of the bridge over the outer spoke-end.

In the drawings, 1 is a spoke having outwardly flaring ends 2 merging at 3 into a rim 4; provided at intervals with bridges 5 having depressed cut away portions 6, for the purpose of saving on the amount of machining necessary upon the rimmed surface after casting. These bridges may be located anywhere but preferably over the outer open spoke-ends. These spokes are hollow, as indicated at 7. 8 is a recess-for receiving the braking mechanism of the driving mechanism. 9 is an aperture in the hub for receiving the axle bearing adjacent to which there extends the flange 10 of angular character, completing the journal bearing of. a wheel. A second flange 11 concentric with 10 formed within the concave'hub surface is a support for the bearing employed in the complete assembly of my wheel. 12. is an annular depression which acts as a self cleaning bearing entrance. 13 indicates a cutaway'portion or open slot between the bridges 5 which is bordered by the side members of the rim 4 on either side.

From the foregoing description, the construction of my improved wheel and the objects realized through the novel features thereof will be readily understood. While the preferred form of the wheel is substantially as here shown, material variations may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A metal wheel consisting of a concave convex hub, hollow spokes, and a rim, the outwardly flaring ends of said spokes merging into said rim as a unitary structure, and a lurality of spaced members located on said rim and forming a part thereof to bridge the outer spoke-ends and said rim.

2. A metal wheel consisting of a concave convex hub, hollow spokes and a rim, the

outwardly flaring ends or said spokes merging into said rim as a unitary structure, a plurality of spaced members'located on said rim and forming a part thereof to bridge 'the outer spoke ends and said rim, and a portion depressed below the surface of said rim in said bridges.

3. A metal wheel consisting of hollow spokes and a concave convex hub having an inwardly projecting flange forming an axle bearing, a self cleaning entrance for said bearing, an annular flange within the concavity of the hub forming a bearing support, an annular flange concentric with the axle bearing extending inwardly adjacent the concavity of said hub and forming one element of the brake mechanism of said wheel,-and a rim consisting of a single wall merging into the outwardly flaring archshaped spoke ends of the spokes.

4. A metal wheel consisting of a one piece single wall rim, hollow spokes having their outwardly flaring arch-shaped spokeends merging therewith, and a concave convex hub having an inwardly projecting flange forming an axle bearing, an annular flange within the concavity of the hub forming a bearing support, and an annular flange concentric with the axle bearing extending inwardly adjacent the concavity of said hub and forming one element of the brake mechanism of said wheel.

I 5. A metal wheel consisting of a rim of a single thickness supported by a plurality of spaced outwardly flaring arch spoke-ends of the hollow spokes of the wheel merging therewith, said spokes extending a portion of the way to the center of the wheel and terminating in an annular flange extending inwardly adjacent the concavity of a hub and forming one element of a brake mechanism of said wheel, and a concave hub disposed adjacent thereto.

6. A metal wheel consisting of a rim of a single thickness supported by a plurality of spaced outwardly flaring arch spoke-ends of hollow spokes of the wheel merging therewith, said spokes extending a portion of the way to the center of the wheel and terminating in an annular flange extending inwardly adjacent the concavity ofa hub and forming one element of a brake mechanism of said wheel, a concave hub disposed adjacent thereto and displaced to one side of said wheel, there being in said concave hub a concentric flange to form a hearing support and a second concentric flange to form a self-cleaning bearing entrance, and an aperture in said hub to receive the spindle of the axle.

lln testi'monywhereof ll aifix my signature.

GEORGE VVALTHER 

